[Illustration] This great historical family is of Norman origin,
descended from Roger de Seimor, or Seymour, who lived in the reign
of Henry I. Woundy, Penhow, and Seymour Castle, all in the county of
Monmouth, (the last sold in the reign of Henry VIII.,) were ancient
seats of the family, who we find in the fourteenth century resident
in Somersetshire, after the marriage of Sir Roger Seymour with the
coheiress of Beauchamp of Hache; his grandson married the heiress of
Esturmi or Sturmey of Chadham, in this county, and thus first became
connected with Wiltshire. Maiden-Bradley belonged to Sir Edward
Seymour, the elder, the eldest surviving son of the Protector
Somerset by his first wife, and the ancestor of the present family,
who in 1750, on the death of the seventh Duke of Somerset, succeeded
to the Dukedom, which by special entail went first to the
descendants of the Protector by his second wife, until the
extinction of her male line in that year.
Younger Branches. Seymour, of Knoyle, in this county, descended from
Francis, next brother of Edward eighth Duke of Somerset, and second
son of Sir Edward Seymour, Baronet, of Maiden-Bradley, who died in
1741. Seymour Marquess of Hertford, (1793,) descended from
Francis, son of Sir Edward Seymour, Bart., who died in 1708, and his
second wife, Letitia, daughter of Francis Popham.
See Brydges's Collins, vol. i. p. 144, vol. ii. p. 560; Westcote's
Devonshire Pedigrees, p. 479; and Wotton's Baronetage, vol. i. p.
86.
ARMS.--_Quarterly,_ 1 _and_ 4, _Or, on a pile gules between six
fleurs-de-lis azure three lions of England;_ 2 _and_ 3, _Gules, two
wings conjoined in lure of the first, the points downwards_. The
wings, the original coat, was borne by Sir Roger de Seimor in the
23rd Henry III., as appears by his seal, with the legend "Sigill'
Rogeri de Seimor." (Collins.) The first quarter was granted by Henry
VIII. as an augmentation in consequence of his marrying Jane,
daughter of Sir John Seymour.
Present Representative, Edward Adolphus Seymour, K.G. 13th Duke of
Somerset.